Comanche's Storm stretches out but gets class relief off layoff
OLDSMAR, Fla. – Trainer George S. Bush isn’t quite sure whether Comanche’s Storm has the stamina to go 1 1/8 miles, but the 3-year-old colt at least will get some class relief in the featured fourth race Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, a first-level, $23,000 turf allowance for horses ages 3 and up.
Comanche’s Storm, a son of Pollard’s Vision owned by Salim Moonab, has started in four consecutive stakes races, including a neck loss to Rizwan in the $75,000 English Channel going 1 1/16 miles on the Gulfstream Park turf in May. He also led early in the Grade 3 Penn Mile before finishing ninth, beaten 3 1/4 lengths by Force the Pass, and finished fourth, beaten two lengths by My Point Exactly, in the $60,000 King Cugat Handicap at Gulfstream.
Comanche’s Storm hasn’t started since finishing last of nine in the $75,000 Miesque’s Approval at Gulfstream in July. Bush said the layoff wasn’t due to injury.
“He’s young, and he had been running pretty hard,” Bush said. “The horse was just getting a little bit tired as a 3-year-old and needed some time off.”
Bush is removing the blinkers from Comanche’s Storm for Saturday’s race, the longest of his career. The horse shows four recent workouts here.
“It’s a mile and an eighth, so we’re hoping he can last long enough,” Bush said. “It might be a little farther than what he needs, but he has to tighten up somehow. Hopefully, he’ll run well. He should run OK. He worked the other day and galloped out strong. He’s been doing everything right.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Comanche’s Storm (Last 3 Beyers: 67-83-82)
◗ The 88 Beyer Speed Figure he earned in the English Channel is the highest mark in this race, which drew a full field of 10, plus three also-eligibles.
Rootformejustin (Last 3 Beyers: 72-87-86)
◗ The 5-2 morning-line favorite is the least-experienced horse in the race with just three starts and will be running beyond seven furlongs for the first time.
All Call (Last 3 Beyers: 82-50-80)
◗ He steps up in class after finishing second in a $20,000 claimer at Hawthorne on Nov. 10. He’s been in the exacta in six of eight turf starts and lures top jockey Antonio Gallardo.
Tiz My Valentine (Last 3 Beyers: 70-62-79)
◗ He has just one win from 12 starts this year but finished a creditable third in the Grade 3 Kent on turf at Delaware Park in July.